Control apparatus



Au 2s, 1.928.

W. H. SMITH CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

INVENTOR Waifer h. 52221777.

ATTORNEY v.

Aug.28,19 28. 1,682,432

w. H. SMITH common APPARATUS Filed Sept.16, 1926 2 Sheets-sheaf '2 Fania 7'0 )1 27 P j 3 gr 26 3/ g 'T'o Reservoir WITNESSES: INVENTOR Waher H. Smirk.

Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,682,432 PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER H SII'IH, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed September 16, 1926. Serial No. 135,980.

This invention relates to relay control apparatus primarily desi ed for controlling actuating mechanisms tor pantagraph trolleys and the like.

The object of the invention, generally stated, is the rovision of relay control apparatus that s all be simple and efficient in operation and capable of being readily and economically manufactured.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide for the actuation of a pantagraph or trolley pole automatically, upon the flow of an excessive current, or manually, when desired.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the resetting of a pantagraph-actuatin g device after it has functioned to lower the P n g ph- Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and, in part, appear herein- 1', The invention, accordingly, is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanyin drawing and comprises the structural ieatures, the combination of elements and the arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects ofthe invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection w1th the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view, in side elevation, of a control relay and contactin device con-v structed in accordance with this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing how the relay and contacting device may be connected for controlling the actuation of a ta re 11. lief rri iig to the drawing, the reference character 10 designates a relay panel on which the control relay, shown generally at 11, is mounted. As illustrated, the relay 11 comprises an overload coil 12 and an armature 13 which is pivotally mounted on the rela panel at 14.

e overload rela coil 12 is provided with a core 15, whic is disposed in alinement with the head 16 of the armature 13. As will be readily understood, the number I of turns in the coil and the size of the conductor constituting the coil will depend upon the operating conditions.

As will be observed, a contact carrier 17 is 7 associated with the armature 13. In this particular construction, the contact carrier is pivotally mounted on the panel 10, below the armature, by means of a pin 18 How ever, it is to be understood that the contact carrier 17 may be set in a number of difierent positions relative to the armature 13 without in any way affecting the operation of the device.

In order that the air ap between the core and the head 16 of the armature may be varied, the former is adjustably mounted in the coil 12. As shown, a shank 44, provided on the upper end of the core 15, is engaged by a nut 46 by means of which it may be 'set in different positions relative to the armature.

With a View to utilizing the armature 13 the contact carrier 17 in a predetermined position. The other contact member 19 slopes gradually downward from the top of the contact carrier, so that, when the contact member 21 rests thereon, the contact carrier may be rotated counter-clockwise to set the contact member 21 in engagement with the contact member 20 without raising the arma ture member A resilient member, such as a spring 23, is connected between the ex tension 22 of the armature 13 and the lower end of the contact carrier 17. In this manner, provision is made for continuously urg-' ing the contact member 21 toward the con tact carrier 17 Further, when the armature 13 is raised to release the contact carrier 17, the spring 23, then actuated by the armature, exerts a pull on the carrier 17 and rotates it clockwise.

Referring now, in particular, to Fig. 2, a spring-raised, air-pressure lowered, antagraph 24 is shown connected by a con uctor 40 to the primary winding of a transformer 25. The secondary of the transformer is connected across a motor 26, which may be utilized for propelling a Vehicle, for example. An auxiliary series transformer 12 is energized from conductor 40 for a purpose to be set forth.

In order to lower the pantagraph to disconnect it from the trolley line 27, an air cylinder 28 is connected, through a pipe line 29 and an electron'iagnetically controlled valve 30, to a train air line, as indicated, such elements being usually provided on trains and street-cars for conveying compressed air to actuate the air brakes. The valve 30 is of the two-way type, and serves to establish communication between the air line and the cylinder 28, when electrically energized, and to connect the pipe line 29 to the exhaust 31, when deenergized.

As illustrated, a piston 35 is slidably mounted in the air cylinder 28 and is connected to a bell crank 31). The lower end of the bell crank 36 is connected to the pantagraph 24: by a cable 37. extending around a pulley 38. Consequently, when air is admitted to the cylinder 28, the piston 35 is projected to the left, as viewed in the drawing, turning the bell crank 36 counterclockwise and thereby drawing the pantagraph downward.

IV hen the air is exhausted from the cylinder 28, the springs, normally provided in the pantagraph, serve to raise it into engagement with the trolley line 27. The structure of the pantagraph is not described herein, since such devices are well known to those skilled in the art.

In order to efiect the manual control of the pantagraph-aetuating mechanism, the valve 30 is connected to the contact member 21 by a conductor 32. The supply of electrical energy to the valve may be controlled by means of a manually operable switch 33 which is connected between the contact member 20 and any suitable source 3 1 of electrical energy.

Assume now that the contact carrier 17 is set with the contact member 20 in engagement with the contact member 21, as illustrated, and that it is desired to lower the pantagraph in order to deenergize the motor circuit. The switch 83 is closed manually. and current flows from the source 34, through the conductor 39, contact members 20 and 21, conductor 32 and the coil of valve 30 to the source of supply. In this manner, the valve is energized and the cylinder 28 is connected to the train air line. The piston 35 is moved to the left and the pantagraph lowered in the manner hereinbefore described.

If the contact members 20 and 21 are set in engagement when an excessive current flows through the pantagraph 24 and the conductor 40, leading to the primary windiug of the transformer 25, f0 any reason, such as a short-circuit occurring in the primar Y winding of the transformer, as indicated by dotted lines at 11, then a heavy current is induced in the auxiliary series transformer coil 42, which is connected to the overload relay coil 12. The flow of a predetermined current in the relay coil 12 effects the energization of the core 15 and raises the arimiture 18. The contact carrier 17 is thus released, and the raising of the armature 1 causes the spring 28 to rotate the carrier 17 clockwise to set the contact member 19 in alinement with the contact member 21. When the contact members 21 and 1!) engage, current flows from the source 31-, through conductor 13, contact members 1:) and 21, conductor 32, and the coil of the valve 30, to the source of supply.

Air is thus admitted to the cylinder 28, and the pantagraph 24 is lowered. In order to release the pantagraph, the carrier 17 may be rotated manually counter-clockwise to interrupt the valve circuit.

Since various changes may be made in the above-described construction and arrangement of parts, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In control apparatus, in combination, a contact carrier disposed to be set in a plurality of positions, contact members mounted in spaced relation on the carrier, a movable armature associated with the carrier, a contact member provided on the armature and disposed to engage the carrier contact members, means for actuating the armature and means operated by the armature for setting the carrier.

2. In control apparatus, in combination, a contact carrier disposed to be set in a plurality of positions, contact members mounted in spaced relation on the carrier, a movable armature associated with the carrier, a contact member provided on the armature and disposed to engage the carrier contact members, means for actuating the armature, and means operated by the armature for setting the carrier, said carriersetting means being disposed to tend continuously to establish engagement between the armature contact member and carrier contact members.

3. In control apparatus, in combination, a contact carrier disposed to be set in a plurality of positions, contact members mounted in spaced relation on the carrier, a movable armature associated with the carrier, a contact member provided on the armature and disposed to engage the carrier contact members, means for actuating the armature, and means operated by the armature for setting the carrier, said armature contact member being disposed to lock the carrier in a predetermined position.

4. In control apparatus, in combination, a contact carrier disposed to be set in a plurality of positions, contact members mounted in spaced relation on the carrier, a movable armature disposed in alinement with the carrier, a contact member mounted on the armature, means for actuating the armature, and means disposed for actuation by the armature to set the carrier in a predetermined position, said carrier-setting means being adapted to continuously urge the armature toward the carrier to establish engagement between the armature contact member and the carrier contact members.

5. In control apparatus, in combination, a pivotally mounted contact carrier, a plurality of contact members mounted on the contact carrier, an armature associated with the carrier, a contact member mounted on the armature and disposed to engage the carrier contact member and to be utilized for locking the carrier in a predetermined position, means for actuating the armature to release the contact carrier, and means actuated by the armature for setting the contact carrier, when released, in a predetermined position.

6. In control system for actuating pantagraphs, in combination, means for actuating a pantagraph, and means for controlling the pantagraph-actuating means comprising a contact carrier provided with a plurality of contact members, an armature associated with the contact carrier, a contact member provided on the armature and disposed to engage the armature contact members, said armature contact member being disposed to engage a carrier contact member to lock the contact carrier in apredetermined position, an overload relay coil disposed to actuate the armature to release the contact carrier upon the flow of a predetermined current through the pantagraph, and means actuated by the armature to move the contact carrier.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th day of September, 1926.

WALTER H. SMITH. 

